Press Conference Schedule is Up! 2010 Celticsblog Draft: Draft Board

[wdleehi]

Why do I have the 23rd pick two days in a row?

We did a "modified" snake draft this year.  Teams that pick at the top of the first round pick at the bottom of the second and third rounds, and back to the top at the fourth round.

The reasoning is that since the teams with the top picks have historically placed higher in the voting, we'd do something to cancel out that inherent advantage a bit.

I haven't chimed in on this so I want to now:

I understand the idea behind it but feel it screws those falling out of the top 5 to about the 12 or 13th pick... Like me. Only the top 5 should have been penalized, just one mans opinion anyway.

There were some fairly elite guys who dropped as far as #20 this year.  I mean, Amare was 2nd team All-NBA, and despite his reputation, his team went deep into the playoffs.

It's really the final ten that have the roughest disadvantage, and they're the ones this modified snake benefits most.

As someone picking 28th for the 2nd year in a row, this is a blessing. 

[JSD]

Can we at least acknowledge the incredible drop off that takes place after the 5th pick?

[Roy H.]

Can we at least acknowledge the incredible drop off that takes place after the 5th pick?

Since CP3 was drafted 7th, nope.

Personally, I had a "big eleven" in this year's draft, which I know is pretty subjective.  My own draft order was:

1. Lebron
2. Howard
3. Wade
4. CP3
5. Durant
6. Kobe
7. Deron
8. Duncan
9. Dirk
10. Bosh
11. Carmelo

I figured you couldn't go wrong with any of those guys, although I can see where people would quibble over Bosh or Carmelo.

[JSD]

Can we at least acknowledge the incredible drop off that takes place after the 5th pick?

Since CP3 was drafted 7th, nope.

Personally, I had a "big eleven" in this year's draft, which I know is pretty subjective.  My own draft order was:

1. Lebron
2. Howard
3. Wade
4. CP3
5. Durant
6. Kobe
7. Deron
8. Duncan
9. Dirk
10. Bosh
11. Carmelo

I figured you couldn't go wrong with any of those guys, although I can see where people would quibble over Bosh or Carmelo.

Duncan, Dirk, Bosh, Carmelo, Deron are all (or should now be considered) on that 2nd Tier and half eliminate you from "Future" contention.

[indeedproceed]

Why do I have the 23rd pick two days in a row?

We did a "modified" snake draft this year.  Teams that pick at the top of the first round pick at the bottom of the second and third rounds, and back to the top at the fourth round.

The reasoning is that since the teams with the top picks have historically placed higher in the voting, we'd do something to cancel out that inherent advantage a bit.

I haven't chimed in on this so I want to now:

I understand the idea behind it but feel it screws those falling out of the top 5 to about the 12 or 13th pick... Like me. Only the top 5 should have been penalized, just one mans opinion anyway.

There were some fairly elite guys who dropped as far as #20 this year.  I mean, Amare was 2nd team All-NBA, and despite his reputation, his team went deep into the playoffs.

It's really the final ten that have the roughest disadvantage, and they're the ones this modified snake benefits most.

As someone picking 28th for the 2nd year in a row, this is a blessing. 

The people this really benefited were the guys who drafted after pick 20 and traded back. They were ideally going superior depth over elite talent anyways, so having that early 3rd round pick meant that one trade they probably would've needed to make anyways (moving up in the 3rd, probably at the expense of their 4th and even their 5th) was already made for them anyways, and completely in their favor.

Duncan, Dirk, Bosh, Carmelo, Deron are all on (or should now be considered) that 2nd Tier and half eliminate you from "Future" contention.

I'd argue that Deron is the best pg in the league.

I think it goes:

Surefire Franchise guys:
LeBron
Durant
Kobe
Wade
Howard
(not in that order)

Then "Guys who can be a number one option on a finals team"
Duncan
Dirk
Carmelo
Deron
CP3

EDIT: and that's all using the "you need a superstar to win a title" formula. If you are going depth, none of these guys are necessary to win, you just need to be stronger all over.

[Roy H.]

Can we at least acknowledge the incredible drop off that takes place after the 5th pick?

Since CP3 was drafted 7th, nope.

Personally, I had a "big eleven" in this year's draft, which I know is pretty subjective.  My own draft order was:

1. Lebron
2. Howard
3. Wade
4. CP3
5. Durant
6. Kobe
7. Deron
8. Duncan
9. Dirk
10. Bosh
11. Carmelo

I figured you couldn't go wrong with any of those guys, although I can see where people would quibble over Bosh or Carmelo.

Duncan, Dirk, Bosh, Carmelo, Deron are all (or should now be considered) on that 2nd Tier and half eliminate you from "Future" contention.

Oh, I don't care so much about "future" voting.  I think a team needs to pick a strategy and go for it; it's very, very hard to do well in both categories (although it's been done before ).

I would gladly build a win-now franchise around Duncan, Dirk, or Deron.  Bosh and Carmelo are a little more questionable to me, but they're legit stars who are easily good enough to win with the right teammates.  (If anything, Carmelo has become underrated due to his poor Denver teams.)

[mgent]

No one has faith in KG anymore?

[JSD]

Why do I have the 23rd pick two days in a row?

We did a "modified" snake draft this year.  Teams that pick at the top of the first round pick at the bottom of the second and third rounds, and back to the top at the fourth round.

The reasoning is that since the teams with the top picks have historically placed higher in the voting, we'd do something to cancel out that inherent advantage a bit.

I haven't chimed in on this so I want to now:

I understand the idea behind it but feel it screws those falling out of the top 5 to about the 12 or 13th pick... Like me. Only the top 5 should have been penalized, just one mans opinion anyway.

There were some fairly elite guys who dropped as far as #20 this year.  I mean, Amare was 2nd team All-NBA, and despite his reputation, his team went deep into the playoffs.

It's really the final ten that have the roughest disadvantage, and they're the ones this modified snake benefits most.

As someone picking 28th for the 2nd year in a row, this is a blessing.  

The people this really benefited were the guys who drafted after pick 20 and traded back. They were ideally going superior depth over elite talent anyways, so having that early 3rd round pick meant that one trade they probably would've needed to make anyways (moving up in the 3rd, probably at the expense of their 4th and even their 5th) was already made for them anyways, and completely in their favor.

Duncan, Dirk, Bosh, Carmelo, Deron are all on (or should now be considered) that 2nd Tier and half eliminate you from "Future" contention.

I'd argue that Deron is the best pg in the league.

I think it goes:

Surefire Franchise guys:
LeBron
Durant
Kobe
Wade
Howard
(not in that order)

Then "Guys who can be a number one option on a finals team"
Duncan
Dirk
Carmelo
Deron
CP3

LeBron, Durant, Kobe, Wade and Howard are in a class by themselves. Especially here on CB where Steve W. put Kobe Bryant next 4 guys that play street ball in Boston and made the playoffs two summers ago.

[Roy H.]

No one has faith in KG anymore?

KG is a guy who can get a team over the hump, but in my mind, he's not a guy you'd want to build a team around anymore.

I do have him firmly in the top 20 picks, though.  I know a lot of GMs said they'd wait to the 2nd round to take him, but I tend to disagree.

[JSD]

Can we at least acknowledge the incredible drop off that takes place after the 5th pick?

Since CP3 was drafted 7th, nope.

Personally, I had a "big eleven" in this year's draft, which I know is pretty subjective.  My own draft order was:

1. Lebron
2. Howard
3. Wade
4. CP3
5. Durant
6. Kobe
7. Deron
8. Duncan
9. Dirk
10. Bosh
11. Carmelo

I figured you couldn't go wrong with any of those guys, although I can see where people would quibble over Bosh or Carmelo.

Duncan, Dirk, Bosh, Carmelo, Deron are all (or should now be considered) on that 2nd Tier and half eliminate you from "Future" contention.

Oh, I don't care so much about "future" voting.  I think a team needs to pick a strategy and go for it; it's very, very hard to do well in both categories (although it's been done before ).

That "either way" player allows one the flexibility in later rounds to adjust and alter depending on how the draft shapes up. You can underrate it all you want but GM's here think about that.

[Roy H.]

LeBron, Durant, Kobe, Wade and Howard are in a class by themselves. Especially here on CB where Steve W. put Kobe Bryant next 4 guys that play street ball in Boston and made the playoffs two summers ago.

I think people severely underrate Chris Paul if they don't consider him a top-tier superstar anymore.  CP3 is an elite player.

[Roy H.]

That "either way" player allows one the flexibility in later rounds to adjust and alter depending on how the draft shapes up. You can underrate it all you want but GM's here think about that.

Doing so risks being caught in a no man's land, in my opinion.  It's always good to maintain flexibility, but given the chance between an elite guy like Duncan or Dirk, or a younger guy like Brook Lopez, I'm going with the established superstar every time (especially with a guy like Duncan).

Tim Duncan + four decent (but not great) guys would make the playoffs.  Brook Lopez + four decent (but not great) guys wins less than 30 games.

Again, it's my opinion only, but I think teams that deviated from the "top 11" handicapped themselves a bit.

[JSD]

LeBron, Durant, Kobe, Wade and Howard are in a class by themselves. Especially here on CB where Steve W. put Kobe Bryant next 4 guys that play street ball in Boston and made the playoffs two summers ago.

I think people severely underrate Chris Paul if they don't consider him a top-tier superstar anymore.  CP3 is an elite player.

Aside from Durant, every one of those guys has been the ace of a very recent Finals team. Chris Paul still has something to prove, he's elite but in that gray area between 1st and 2nd tier to me. Number 6 or 7 no doubt though.

[mgent]

No one has faith in KG anymore?

KG is a guy who can get a team over the hump, but in my mind, he's not a guy you'd want to build a team around anymore.

I do have him firmly in the top 20 picks, though.  I know a lot of GMs said they'd wait to the 2nd round to take him, but I tend to disagree.

I still consider KG a superstar.  He's a better defender than anyone on your list with the exception of Howard, and that counts for a lot when building a team.  Especially when he's the best at making others better at defense.

[JSD]

That "either way" player allows one the flexibility in later rounds to adjust and alter depending on how the draft shapes up. You can underrate it all you want but GM's here think about that.

Doing so risks being caught in a no man's land, in my opinion.  It's always good to maintain flexibility, but given the chance between an elite guy like Duncan or Dirk, or a younger guy like Brook Lopez, I'm going with the established superstar every time (especially with a guy like Duncan).

Tim Duncan + four decent (but not great) guys would make the playoffs.  Brook Lopez + four decent (but not great) guys wins less than 30 games.

I didn't have a chance at Duncan.